Cuban actors due at TriBeCa Film Fest go missing

In a case of life imitating art, two Cuban actors have gone missing en route to their film's premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Javier Nunez Florian and Analin de la Rua de la Torre disappeared in Miami during a layover last week. The film, "Una Noche," premiered at Tribeca on Thursday.

Where the 20-year-old actors went remains unknown, but they are assumed to have defected. Written and directed by Lucy Mulloy, "Una Noche" is about teenagers struggling in poverty who decide to defect to the United States.

"I wish they could have been here in New York City to enjoy the Tribeca Film Festival," said Mulloy. "Though they've made difficult choices about what to do at present, I wish them the very best in all their endeavors and I hope I will get to see them again soon."

"I would love to know that they are well," she added.

De la Rua de la Torre and Nunez Florian play brother and sister in the film, which was shot in Cuba.

The festival said in a statement that it has not had any contact with the actors.

A third actor from the film, Dariel Arrechada, continued on to New York where he has participated in the festival. He is scheduled to return to Cuba.

"Though we all miss them, and I miss them very much, I am confident they will do what is best for them," said Arrechada. "My heart is with them and I hope they are safe and well."